Mountain View, CA - December 22, 2011 - Dr. Prasanna Menon, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology physician who practices at El Camino Hospital, has performed the first Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS™) gynecologic procedure in the South Bay.
Previously used for general surgery, the next generation laparoscopic technology allowed Dr. Menon to perform a hysterectomy using just a single incision in the belly button, resulting in less or no visible scarring.
"Laparoscopy has transformed surgery over the past three decades," said Dr. Menon. "And now, SILS is transforming laparoscopy, adding new options for patients. When I first saw this demonstrated at a conference, I was excited at the prospect of learning this new technique to provide a minimally invasive option for my patients. While SILS isn't suitable for everyone, it's a wonderful option for anyone concerned about a visible scar or recovery time from surgery."
"Offering patients the best possible choices suitable to their individual needs has always been our goal," said Michele van Zuiden, Executive Director of the Women’s Hospital at El Camino Hospital. "This is one more illustration of the investment we've made in delivering on that commitment."
The SILS procedure, the most recent innovation involving laparoscopic hysterectomies which have been performed since 1988, eliminates the need for multiple small entry points (usually three to four incisions) used with traditional laparoscopic techniques. Instead, the SILS procedure uses one access point. Because the incision is obscured by the patient’s belly button, visible scarring is reduced. Specialized SILS hand instruments are required.
SILS is also used for other types of surgeries, including bariatric, gastrointestinal, and urologic procedures.
"Traditional laparoscopy leaves an 'upside down smile' of a scar on the upper abdomen," said Dr. Menon. "The lack of visible scarring in the SILS procedure is a clear advantage."
There's evidence the procedure has other benefits, as well. One 20 mm incision through the belly button may reduce or eliminate the pain associated with additional sites of entry and could promote faster recovery, as well, according to the manufacturer of the SILS instrumentation, Covidien.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the U.S., and one in three women will have had one by the age of 60. The procedure is used to treat a variety of gynecologic conditions affecting a woman’s reproductive system, ranging from fibroids and chronic pelvic pain to uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers.